Ship salvaging barge



Sept. 4, s BA$|LE SHIP SALVAGIIQG BARGE Filed Nov. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 In cantor: Sa lvafore Basile Sept. 4, 1945. s. BASILE SHIP SALVAGING BARGE Filed Nov. 1, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [n 0012 for Sa l?) a fare Basile NR HI I, 5 J gr/4371 7/ 0. 1

,R w I Sept. 4; 1945. v S BASILE 2,384,271

SHIP SALVAGING BKRGE Filed Nov. 1, 1943 s SheetsSheet s I I 2 I'm/1a:

Patented Sept. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIP SALVAGING BARGE Salv tore Bas le, Bloomfield, C nn. Application November 1, 1943, Serial No. 508,533

7 Claims,

My invention relates to the class of devices which are employed for raising sunken ships, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a device in the form of a barge by means of which sunken vessels may be raised in a most effectual manner and when raised may be conveyed to any suitable point for furthe r operations.

One form of a ship salvaging barge embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be obtained is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, partially in section, of a salvaging barge embodying mydenoted by the broken line 3--3 of Fig. t, looking toward the stern.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the barge with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 5 is a perspective detail view on enlarged scale illustrating one of the lifting devices.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fragment of the barge broken away and showing the use of the devices for supporting the ship being salvaged and to maintain it in an upright condition.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of a diving bell used in connection with the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a view of a fragment of the salvaging barge illustrating means for increasing its buoyancy.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings my improved salvaging barge considered from a broad standpoint comprises two parts 10" pivotally attached together by a pivot 42 located at or near the stern and secured together at the opposite end by means of a series of hooks 13 secured to a vertically mounted shaft I4 preferably extending from the deck downwardly to the bottom of the barge and operated to secure the two barge sections together and to release them by means of a piston in a cylinder l5 connected with said shaft by an arm l6 secured to the upper end of the shaft. The two ba ge sections are securely fastened against independent vertical movement by means of wedge-shaped projections I! on one section entering notches of like shape on the opposite section, as shown pended for repairs or transport.

in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The same construction is arranged at the rear end of the barge where wedge-shaped projections 18 located for-- ward of the pivot 12 interengage and are held so engaged by hooks l9 secured to a shaft 2! pivotally mounted vertically and connected by an arm 2! with a piston in a cylinder 22, the pistons being operated in any suitable manner, a description of which is not necessary herein.

In order to accommodate a vessel being salvaged the half members of the barge are recessed on their inner or confronting sides, these recesses 23-24 constituting a well shaped to conform generally to the shape of the ship being salvaged and wherein said ship may be sus- A Diesel engine 25 in the stern of each half of the bargeis connected with a propeller 26 for the purpose of driving the barge. Cylinders 2! with opposed pistons therein pivotally connected with ears 28 at the rear end of the recesses 23-44 are em ployed to open and close the barge halves, these cylinders being supplied with any suitable pressure fluid in any ordinary manner which'will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. To limit the outward swinging movement of the barge halves cables (not herein shown) extending across the well constituted by the recesses 23-24 and which may be removed as the ship is grad ually enclosed within the well are employed. Closing of the barge halves may be facilitated by means of winches (not-specifically shown) to receive the limitation cables to assist the cylin ders 21 in the closing operation of the barge halves.

When a ship being salvaged has been enclosed Within the well between the barge halves," as hereinbefore explained, it is held in a vertical position (or on an even keel if listing) by sets of pistons 29-30 operating in cylinders"3|-32 with devices on the ends thereof which are engaged with the sides of the ship being operated upon. Each piston 29 carries a hinge contact member 33 while each piston 30 carries a roller 34 at its outer end for contact with the sides imity to a recess 31, said cables passing downtween the sides 38 and which is raised and lowered by means of a piston 50 extending into a cylinder 5| pivotally suspended between the sides.

38 and which may be supplied with driving fluid in any suitable manner as hereinbefore explained. The outer ends; of the arms 43 are" Iormed to tightly grip the upper portion or deck of a ship being salvaged.

Each of thearms 44 as before stated is pivotally attached between the sides 38 of a lifting device and is raised or lowered by means of links 52 pivotally attached at one end to the arm and at its opposite end to a piston rod 41 operating in a cylinder 48. Each of the. arms comprises a rest 53 at its outer end adapted to be engaged underneath with the bottom of the ship being salvaged, these rests being adjustable longitudinally within the arm by means of a piston rod 54 in a cylinder 55, this cylinder as well as the others hereinbefore referred to, being supplied with a driving fluid in any suitable manner and as may be desired. It will .thusbe seen that the arms 43 and 44 with their contacting members may 'be readily adjusted to suit the size of the ship being salvaged and to properly engage said ship to firmly hold it while being raised.

Braces 51 are pivotally. attached at one'end to the arms 44 and at their opposite ends to the sides 38 as'a supplemental means for supporting the arms when actuated to lift a load. The upper ends of the links 52 are attached to the sides 38 by means of pivots 58 vertically movable in slots 59 in said side 'parts. a

A pointed member 56 is affixed at the lower ends of each of the hoistingor lifting devices- 36 to'more easily enter the sea bottom and thereby firmly steady the lifting devices while a ship is being raised.

'To supplement the bargesweight sustainingability, as when raising a large heavily laden ship, pontoons 60 suspended from davits 6| mounted on the deck of the barge are employed to be positioned on the water surface and fastened by cables 62 of an endless type controlled by winches 63 mounted on the deck of the salvaging barge, a showing of these winches appearing in Figs. 2 and 3.

The pontoons may also serve a useful purpose as rafts onto which freight from the ship beingsalvaged may be transferred, thereby relieving the strain from the lifting mechanism. Cork fill 64 within the barge walls (see Fig. 8) may be used to increase the buoyancy of the barge, and built-in pontoons 65 may be employed for the same purpose.

These pontoons 65 are in fact air tight compartments and comprise an important feature of my invention. There are many of them constituting enclosed chambers that are preferably arranged in a row and touching each other as shown in Fig. 8. They are each gradually tapered from a narrow dimension at the bottom increasing in width toward the top, the bottom edges being preferably located at or just below the normal water line of the barge. This construction provides a series of water-tight compartments positioned preferably outside of the barge along the top, thereby increasing buoyancy oi the barge as it is lowered in the water either from sustaining load or from injury or other causes. It will be observed that this construction may be applied to vessels in general and not limited necessarily to salvaging barges.

,Pockets; 66 for diving bells 6! are .formed in the deck of the barge and which bells may be 1 raised and lowered as by means of cables operating from davit frames 68, as shown in Figs.

3-and 4 of the drawings. These diving bells are supplied with telephone, two-way radio, camera,

and other communication means as well as necessarycontrol means for operation of the attached cables 69 for moving the diving bells from place to place and for following the operator's telephone instructions to cable men on the deck of the barge.- The diving 'bells will also be provided with such other instruments of various kinds including oxygen tanks and other paraphernalia as may be required. Each bell will be constructed with a section thereof fitted with flexiglass or other suitable transparent material to give the operators within the bell full scope of vision.

An entrance hatch 16 is provided in the top of the bell for access thereto. A loud speaker 11 and a two-way radio 18 are also shown as equipment for the bell. A system 19 of levers for outside communication is also provided, as herein shown these comprising three levers forthis purpose. Operation of the lever to the left for instance indicating a desire for movement of the bell on the left, that on the right a desire for movement of the .bell to the right, and the center lever if moved up denoting a desire for the bell to be raised, and a downward movement of said lever denoting a direction for lowering the bell.

It will be noted that as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 a carriage that supports the sheaves 40 may be moved laterally of the barge to move the gripping devices 36 forward or back toward and away from the vessel being operated upon.

A combination deck house 10 for navigation purposes and operation of the salvaging equipment of the barge is located near the aft end thereof. This gives a centralized position from which to direct various maneuvers in connection with securing a ship to be salvaged. This deck house is 'so constructed that when the barge halves are opened a set of rollers H in the bottom of the overhanging section will permit ease of movement to permit the barge sections to be operated, as shown in Fig. 3. Air compressors 12 with ample tank equipment 13 are provided for operation .of the mechanisms hereinbefore described for securing asunken ship in the barge well, and to supply with air as needed the pontoons or other air operated devices. I

- Auxiliary Diesel engines 14 for driving generators to furnish current for the motors on winches and for lighting and other purposes are located.

in the barge halves, and motor driven pumps I5 are stationed on the deck of the barge halves to remove water from the salvaged ship after getting it to the surface and for such repairs as may be needed.

- Stairways are, located in numerous places to connect the several decks in the barge halves and removable rails are furnished about the outside edges of the upper deck where required, such part not requiring a specific showing herein.

I claim:

1. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially at the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, an arm pivotally mounted on said supporting member, means for swinging said arm to engage the top of said ship, a bottom arm mounted on said device underneath said swinging arm, means for operating said bottom arm to engage underneath said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

2. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially in the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, recesses formed in the opposite walls of said well to receive lifting devices, lifting devices located in said recesses, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, an arm pivotally mounted on said supporting member, means for swinging said arm to engage the top of said ship, a bottom arm mounted on said device underneath said swinging arm, and means for raising said lifting device.

3. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially in the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, a carrier bracket mounted on said supporting member and vertically adjustable thereon, an arm pivotally attached to said bracket for engagement with the top of said ship, means for swinging said arm to engage the top of said ship, a bottom arm mounted on said device underneath said swinging arm, means for operating said bottom arm to engage underneath said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

4. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially in the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, an arm pivotally mounted on said supporting member to engage the top of said ship to be salvaged, means for swinging said arm to engage the top of said ship, an arm pivotally attached to said device underneath said swinging arm, means for swinging said bottom arm on its pivot on said supporting side member to position it relatively to the bottom of said ship,

means for engaging said bottom arm with the bottom of said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

5. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially in the center thereof with a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, a bracket vertically adjustable on said supporting member, means for imparting vertical movement to said bracket, an arm pivotally mounted on said bracket to engage the top of'said ship, means for swinging said arm on its pivot, a bottom arm supported on and extending from said device underneath said swinging arm to engage the bottom of said ship, means for engaging aid bottom arm with the bottom of said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

6. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially in the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, an arm pivotally carried by said supporting side member to engage the top of said ship, means for operating said arm, a bottom. arm pivotally supported by said supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom, a rest movable longitudinally along said bottom arm to engage the bottom of said ship, means for entending said rest underneath the bottom of said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

7. In combination in a salvaging barge having a well substantially ,in the center thereof of a capacity to receive a ship to be salvaged, a number of lifting devices located on opposite sides of said well, each of said devices comprising a supporting side member, an arm pivotally carried by said supporting member to engage the top of said ship, means for operating said arm, a bottom arm pivotally attached to said supporting member, a link pivotally attached to said bottom arm, a piston secured to said link, means at the top of said supporting member for operating said link to raise and lower said bottom arm, a rest movably supported lengthwise of said bottom arm, a cylinder mounted on said bottom arm, a piston operating in said cylinder and connected with said rest to extend the latter to engage underneath the bottom of said ship, and means for raising said lifting device.

SALVATORE BASILE. 

